Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are returning their wedding gifts for this surprising reason
We didn't see this coming...
We didn't see this coming...
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot earlier this month at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle, in quite possibly the most touching (and star-studded) ceremony in history.
But it wasn’t finding the perfect Philip Treacy hat or posing for the official royal wedding photos that proved the most taxing for royal wedding guests.
Instead it was wedding present shopping - what to get the couple who has everything!?
The royal couple enforced a no present rule for the big day, asking their guests instead to donate to one of their seven chosen charities.
There were however exceptions, with the Queen giving the newlyweds the title of Duke and Duchess of Sussex and a stately home, and French President Emmanuel Macron choosing them a James Bond themed cigar cutter set from prestigious Paris-based brand, S.T. Dupont.
For some however it seems that breaking the gift giving rule wasn’t allowed, with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle reportedly forced to return some of their wedding gifts, adding up to a whopping £7 million.
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The presents in question were unsolicited gifts from businesses, firms and celebrities, according to the Express. And accepting these presents would be breaking a royal rule, with the Windsors not allowed to accept freebies to prevent them from being exploited for commercial purposes.
‘Gifts offered by private individuals living in the UK not personally known to the Member of the Royal Family should be refused where there are concerns about the propriety or motives of the donor or the gift itself,’ the guidelines read.
Should have stuck with the charity donations!
Jenny Proudfoot is an award-winning journalist, specialising in lifestyle, culture, entertainment, international development and politics. She has worked at Marie Claire UK for seven years, rising from intern to Features Editor and is now the most published Marie Claire writer of all time. She was made a 30 under 30 award-winner last year and named a rising star in journalism by the Professional Publishers Association.
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